"I've got my work cut out for me," [Reggie] Theus said after Tuesday's training camp session....

"I've got my work cut out for me," [Reggie] Theus said after Tuesday's training camp session. "([Donté] Greene plays) great offense and has no basic understanding of how to play defense." Theus said he considers the forward a "project player," because he has "never really been taught anything about defense at all."

Melody Gutierrez of The Bee

9 months ago Ziller Comment 19 comments 0 recs |

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Ouch.

by Shizzo on Oct 3, 2008 7:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I guess

Jim Boeheim was too busy teaching Kobe to play defense to bother with Donte

by furious.d on Oct 3, 2008 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

if The Reno Bighorns care whether or not Greene plays defense.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Oct 3, 2008 7:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

When I talked to Greene on Monday, I told to stay away from Reno. He asked, “What’s in Reno?” I said, “The D-League team and a lot of depressing people.” He shook his head and said, “I ain’t going there, oh no, I ain’t going …”

I’m not sure, but I don’t think he wants to test his defense at the D-League level.

by Ziller on Oct 3, 2008 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

Hilarious. As someone who has worked in Reno during seasonal events like Hot August Nights which drew visitors from all over, I can honestly say that there were still a lot of depressing people.

AK47, SN13, B52, and K9. One guns, Another runs, He fits, while it licks.

by CAB on Oct 3, 2008 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's OK

You know what? It’s understandable. Greene didn’t play defense in High School (no one does) and his college team played zone. Defense is 60% effort, 20% athleticism and 20% understanding. Greene has the athleticism covered and the effort part is completely up to him. I just hope it’s not a harbinger of him being sent to Reno. I’d rather see Douby traded for a second round pick and Greene kept on the team.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Oct 3, 2008 10:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What's the point of keeping Greene on the team this season...

if it means he doesn’t get off the bench anyhow?

Would it be better for his development to play in the D-League, or to stay with the team but only play in practice (against superior talent to what he would see in the D-League obviously)?

by cabz on Oct 3, 2008 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't know

I guess that’s the question for any young player. Are they better off on the team or in the D-league? I guess I’d say that young players with guaranteed deals are generally better off with the team. Guys with non-guaranteed deals, second round picks and so on are better off in the D-league.

Young guys are going to play against better competition in the NBA and they’ll learn from NBA coaches and veterans. They also have a chance to get in games occasionally in case of injury or blowout. In Greene’s case, Reggie has a problem with his defense. The way he’s going to learn NBA defense and his teammates tendencies is to be with the team, not in Reno.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Oct 4, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Martin sat on the end of the bench

and he came along just fine.
Also, with Reggie switching over to the Triangle, it is probably best if Greene’ learns right along with the other rookie. That way they all learn it together and learn each others reads. Besides, they probably won’t be running the Triangle in the DLeague, so whatever Greene’ learns there won’t help him when they bring him back.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Oct 4, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I'm from 30 minutes outside of Reno.

What’s so depressing about it compared to any other city? I love Reno. There’s plenty of shows, great food, nice people, and now our D-League affiliate. Don’t bag on them just because they aren’t in spitting distance of Sacramento.

I’m think Greene will be a bit like Peja on defense. Under-rated, but deservingly so.

by dkons21 on Oct 3, 2008 10:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's Economy

Is totally based around gambling, and up until a year and a half ago real estate. We know how that real estate thing is working out. Like alcohol, gambling has a detrimental effect on a lot of people. Not all, but a lot. This is particularly evident in Reno as a second or third tier gambling town.

AK47, SN13, B52, and K9. One guns, Another runs, He fits, while it licks.

by CAB on Oct 3, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

UNR

It looks to me like Downtown Reno is struggling, but I was on UNR’s campus earlier this week and it was really nice. It’s a much nicer campus than Sac State, where I went to school.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Oct 3, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Reno

… but there seems to be an inordinate amount of bad vibes anywhere but, say, the university area and Costco.

by Ziller on Oct 3, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This kind of thing is to be expected

when you draft a 19 year old. The 1st two seasons, minimum, are little more than remedial work. Hell, it often takes 2-3 seasons for a 4 year college player to get accustomed to the NBA. The story could have been about how Greene is too young to drink and it would have been just as surprising.

I had him slotted for 10-11th man minutes as soon as we got him. Did anyone really expect more this season? Players ahead of him: Kevin, Miller, Beno, Salmons, Moore, Garcia, Hawes, BJax, Williams and/or JT.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Oct 3, 2008 1:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Question

…when you draft a 19 year old. The 1st two seasons, minimum, are little more than remedial work.

So where does Hawes fit in to this theory? While he hasn’t displaced Miller as the starting C (when both are available), he is expected to play a fairly significant role this year, no?

Does this speak to him being ahead of the curve, or is he being pushed too soon?

Just curious what you/anyone thinks, as I believe your comment is valid.

by smgmatt on Oct 7, 2008 6:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ahead

Hawes had already developed skills for his position and was drafted higher because of them. Greene’ s team played zone and one on one offense, so he never got to work on NBA type skills. He got drafted 28th for his size and athleticism. He’s a project. That’s why Houston gave him up for a player that could help take them to the Finals now.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Oct 7, 2008 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's why the KIngs gave up Artest

They weren’t in that position. I think that argument is a totally hollow one as far as justification. Both sides felt compelling reason to do the deal given the needs of both their franchise’s. That’s as much reasoning as it takes to explain why the trade went down the way it did.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Oct 7, 2008 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A little off topic

We all know why the Artest deal went down. The topic was

This kind of thing is to be expected
when you draft a 19 year old. The 1st two seasons, minimum, are little more than remedial work. Hell, it often takes 2-3 seasons for a 4 year college player to get accustomed to the NBA.

and the question was

So where does Hawes fit in to this theory?

So, what is your opinion on that?

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Oct 7, 2008 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's right

We all know how the Artest deal went down. We all know because we were all there in the back room with each other discussing it!

I don’t know where Shawes fits in with this team right now. That isn’t a question that is answerable. I’m smart enough to know the questions I can answer, and the answers I can’t. I don’t know anything else, but I at least know that.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Oct 7, 2008 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs